Georgia Tech escapes early time slot for Virginia Tech game

Georgia Tech sophomore DB A.J. Gray (15) and junior DB Lance Austin (17) signal a turnover after a play in the first half of the Yellow Jackets’ game against Duke Saturday, October 29, 2016. SPECIAL/Daniel Varnado

Georgia Tech sophomore DB A.J. Gray (15) and junior DB Lance Austin (17) signal a turnover after a play in the first half of the Yellow Jackets’ game against Duke Saturday, October 29, 2016. SPECIAL/Daniel Varnado

At long last, Georgia Tech will play in a football game that does not start at noon or 12:30 p.m. ESPN and ACC have assigned the Yellow Jackets a 3:30 p.m. kickoff for their Nov. 12 game at No. 23 Virginia Tech. The announcement was made Monday.

The game will be broadcast on ESPNU. Of Tech’s first nine games, seven have been given noon or 12:30 p.m. kickoffs, including the season opener in Dublin against Boston College. Tech will play North Carolina this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on the ACC Network (CW-69 in Atlanta).

Hokies-Jackets have typically made for compelling and meaningful matchups. From 2005 to 2011, the winner of the game represented the Coastal Division in the ACC championship game. Since coach Paul Johnson’s hire, seven of the eight games have been decided by seven points or less.

It’s possible that the Hokies, under first-year coach Justin Fuente, could be playing to clinch their first ACC title-game berth since 2011.